When connecting to gear that uses 3.5mm TRS jacks for MIDI, it's crucial to know that there are two different, incompatible standards: Type A and Type B.
- The Difference: The two types simply swap the wiring for the tip and the ring on the 3.5mm plug. If you use the wrong type, the connection will not work.
- Which Type Does Orchid Use? Orchid uses the 5-pin DIN standard for its MIDI Out port.
- Common Problem: A user trying to connect Orchid to an Arturia MicroFreak found their 5-pin-to-TRS cable didn't work. This is because Arturia products often use the Type B standard.
- Solution:
- Check the manual for your external synth to see if it requires Type A or Type B.
- Use the specific 5-pin-to-TRS adapter that came with your device (like the ones included with Arturia products).
- Purchase a universal adapter, like the Retrokits RK-TRS-X, which has a switch to toggle between Type A and Type B polarity.